Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-20
L0ND0N'S FATAL CRUSH
SEVENTEEN CORPSES AT THE
FOOT OF THE STAIRS.

An Attempt TO Stop Leak in Gas
Pipe the Oause of the DIsssrrOus False
Alarm of Fire-Frlghtfui Evidences OF
the Terrible Force OF the Collision Be
tween the Two Rushing Torrents of
Human Heings.
LONDON, Jan. 10.-Seventeen dead
bodies We're found in the lobby OF the
hall on Princess street where the panic
occurred last night during the progress
of the benefit entertainment given by the
Jewish society. They We're all torn,
crushed and disligured. Twelve were
women, three boys and a girl, and one q
man. The remains were almost unreCog-
nlzable. Eye witnesses say that the way
strong men, who got the up permOst IN the
struggle at the door, crushed aud tram
pied on those who fell down In the conflict,
was indesCribably ruthless and brutal,
although, of course, not Willtul, it being
supreme case OF "eVerYOne tor himself.'
The hall Is faVorite resort for the Jews
of that part OF London. Entertainments
have been given there every night for
long time past. Last evening the place
was crowded. The manager of the He
brew Dramatic Club, which was giving
the entertainment, W as on the stage
when the panic began.
IMPOSSIBLE TO STEM THE TIDE.
He perceived at once that there was no
good reason for it and did all in his power
to allay the excitement and TO afford ali
possible facilities Tor the exit OF the peO-
pie. The hall has a numb Der of entrances
and he had them all thrown wide open,
and called on the people when they w0u id
not remain to divide and use all the door
ways, but they paid no attention to hm.
The whole crowd, as with one impulse,
made for the main entrance. The bodies
were found at the bottom Of "A stone
stairs leading to the gallery. Here a ter-
rible struggle took place between the
front of the crowd rushing from the main
floor aud tine leaders Of The throng whIcA
rushed down the gallery stairs.
TWO OPPOSING ROWS.
The dead lay mostly In two opposing
rows. the feet OF each row were close
TO those OF the other, one row of heads
lying toward the gallery stairway and
the other toward the opposite side of the
nall. The faces of the dead were ds.
tOrted with agoniZed expressions. Tho
clothes were completely torn from the
bodies of some OF the victims, A mau
named Harris Goldberg saws he went TO
the gallery OF the hall, accompanied by
his wife and family. Toe melodrama
called 1.-THE spanish Gypsy Grip was the
play. During the performance some
BOYS, in order to obtain a better view of
the stage, climbed up an exposed gas
pipe fixed along the wall. This strained
the pipe and started a leak. Goldberg
placed mis- handkerchief over the leak,
and someone shouted, "Turn off the
metre."
CRY FROM THE STAGE.
This shout was raised simultaneously
with a cry OF alarm from one OF the actors
on the stage. Then the peOpe ia the gal
lery rose and rushed headlOng down
stairs. GOldberg's wife was Jorn away
from him ana trampled TO death. his
6-year-Old son jumped upon the heads OF
the packed mass ana escaped by running
over them. The managers are not to
blame Tor the disaster. The passage from
the hall to the street entrance is ten feet
wide where The struggle occurred and
the doors swing bOtn ways. There are
several minor exits from the gallery,
three besides the staircase. The disaster
arose not from crOwding of the passage,
but from the frantic efforts OF the people
in the gallery to force their way down
the crowded stairs. The men and wOme II
in front were driven headlong into the
passage where they met the excited Oc.
cupants of the pit and there was a hope
less look.